Norwegian seafood exports declined 5 per cent in volume in October and 3 per cent in value compared to the same month last year, the Norwegian Seafood Council informed.

Last month 275,000 tonnes of seafood were sent abroad worth NOK 9.1 billion (USD 1.1 billion). With this contribution, the seafood exports accumulated in the first ten months this year reached 2.1 million tonnes, with a value of NOK 77.6 billion (USD 9.5 billion), figures representing year-on-year increases of 3 per cent and by 5 per cent, respectively.

“With seafood exports totalling NOK 9.1 billion, October was the second best single month for Norwegian seafood exports ever. Salmon exports increased by 2 per cent in October, total whitefish exports increased by 10 per cent, while mackerel and herring exports were down by 19 per cent,” said Asbjørn Warvik Rørtveit, Director of Market Insight with the Norwegian Seafood Council.

In October salmon exports reached 98,000 tonnes worth NOK 5.7 billion, which represents a volume increase of 10 per cent and a value growth of 2 per cent. Poland and France were the largest salmon markets.

In the first ten months of the year, Norway exported 807,000 tonnes of salmon for NOK 53.4 billion, representing a 1 per cent growth in volume and a 9 per cent increase in value from the same period last year.

Trout exports declined by 18 per cent in volume and 18 per cent in value compared to October 2016. Belarus and China bought the most trout from Norway.

These sales abroad also declined in the January-October period, by 51 per cent in volume and by 32 per cent in value compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, in october there was a 29 per cent increase in value of fresh cod export, including fillet, and a volume increase 23 per cent compared to October last year. Denmark and Sweden were the largest markets.

From January to October, fresh cod, including fillet, exports reached an 8 per cent growth in volume and a 10 per cent increase in value.

As to the sales of frozen cod, including fillet, abroad, in October their volume was at the same level as last year while the value increased by 1 per cent. China and Lithuania were the largest markets.

In the ten-month period, these exports grew by 1 per cent in volume and by 4 per cent in value.

Whole clipfish exports grew in volume and value, 4 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively, from October last year. In the January-October period, these sales abroad grew 12 per cent in volume and 10 per cent in value. Portugal and Brazil were the largest markets.

Norway also exported salted fish, which in October increased by 7 per cent in volume and by 28 per cent in value. In the first ten months, these exports declined by 5 per cent in volume but grew by 3 per cent in value. Italy and Portugal were the largest salt fish markets.

Stockfish exports declined by 19 per cent in value in October and 20 per cent in volume.

Herring was exported in October, with a volume decline of 34 per cent and a value reduction of 46 per cent. In the January-October period, these sales abroad increased by 8 per cent in volume but declined by 13 per cent in value from the same period last year. Poland and Lithuania were the largest markets.

In october, mackerel export volume increased by 3 per cent and its value declined by 13 per cent. In the first ten months of the year, there was also a decline in volume and value. So far this year, China and Japan have been the largest markets.

Shellfish exports rose by 25 per cent in volume in October with a 7 per cent growth in value while in the case king crab, its exports in October decreased in volume and in value by 20 per cent.

Finally, prawn sales abroad increased in volume and value in October. Sweden and Denmark were the main destinations.